THIRTY-TWO schools in the North-East have won awards for their commitment to the arts.

The first regional Artsmark presentation took place at the Live Theatre, in Newcastle, yesterday, where the winning schools received their awards from BBC Look North presenter, Carol Malia.

The Artsmark recognises schools that have made a strong commitment to the arts and have developed a nationally-recognised range of arts provision for their pupils.

There are three levels: Artsmark Gold, Artsmark Silver and Artsmark.

Six schools won gold awards. They were: Haughton Community School, in Darlington, Hall Garth School, in Middlesbrough, Eggles-cliffe School, near Stockton, Hotspur Primary School, in Newcastle, Greenfield School and Peases West Primary, both in Durham.

Andrew Dixon, chief of Northern Arts, said: "I am very proud that so many schools in the region have won awards through the Artsmark scheme.

"It symbolises the importance of the arts in education, rewards excellence, endorses good practice and demonstrates that schools are concerned not only with academic success, but with the wider development of young people.